It was a shorts wearing kind of night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Friday, March 6 with temperatures over the 70 degree mark. Also heating up the night was the latest performance by Little Rocket Man and David Miller, winning the featured $22,000 Open Pace, putting the Indiana superstar over the $2 million mark for his career.
Little Rocket Man wasn’t playing it safe and as soon as the gate opened, he was on the move to the lead from post seven. Parked through the first turn by Ardens Ace N and LeWayne Miller, Little Rocket Man crossed over to the lead at the quarter in :26.1 before Noblesville and Marcus Miller pursued the top spot, becoming the third leader at the half in :54.2.
The back of the pack began to move up and out, forcing Ardens Ace N to the outside and in a chain reaction, Little Rocket Man was also moving out in the final turn. At the head of the lane, Little Rocket Man took over with Ardens Ace N right at his heels. Little Rocket Man was strong throughout the stretch and crossed under the wire a winner by a neck over Ardens Ace N. Im Skinnydipin N and Trace Tetrick finished third in the 1:50.1 mile that brought Little Rocket Man home in a final quarter of :26.3.
Little Rocket Man was the heavy favorite of the field, paying $2.80. He was greeted by the Ken Rucker Stable with a lightweight blanket saying “Little Rocket Man $2 Million.” A large group of well wishers joined Little Rocket Man on the track for a photo, and the 10-year-old son of Rockin Image was still on the go as a quick photo was snapped before heading back to the barn as the sport’s newest double millionaire.
Owned by Russ Beeman and Jack Freeman, Little Rocket Man is now four for seven in 2026 and has 83 career wins from 148 career starts. His career best time of 1:47.2 was taken as a four-year-old at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. He has paced in 1:49.0 or faster in each of his seven previous years of racing. Unraced at two, Little Rocket Man has also earned six figures or more every year except his four-year-old season. His best year on the track was his eight-year-old season when he won more than $572,000. He had the most wins during his seven-year-old season when he was 17 of 27 on the year and nearly matched his career best time, earning a win at Scioto Downs in 1:47.3.
Little Rocket Man is the first foal from the former Indiana Sires Stakes champion GT Miss Royal, who earned more than $230,000 with a mark of 1:52.3. She has had six foals of racing age with five winners and has a two-year-old this year named JK Another Victory, a son of JK Endofanera. She also has a yearling filly by Rockin Image, a full sister to Little Rocket Man, named Royal Blessings.
Little Rocket Man was sold out of the Victory Hill Farm consignment in the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale under the name Just Like Pete, purchased for $18,000 with Jack Freeman signing the ticket. He is not only a proven Indiana contender, he has taken his talents outside of the state with many stakes victories throughout the years in Ohio, Kentucky, Canada, and even Minnesota. He is now on a three-race win streak, adding his first win of the year at Harrah’s Hoosier Park to two consecutive wins in the Open at Miami Valley. David Miller has been in the bike for all three wins this season for trainer Ken Rucker, who has conditioned Little Rocket Man for the past four years.
The evening kicked off with another Rockin Image veteran making his way to the winner’s circle as Rogers Image and Brandon Bates were winners in a gate to wire effort in 1:55.1. The eight-year-old gelding, trained by Walter Haynes Jr., fended off a late charge by Picksixking and Atlee Bender to win by a neck. Chesapeake Sunrise and Travis Seekman finished third.

Rogers Image is owned by Sara Haynes and Jeff Fought. It was his first win of 2026 and his 19th overall. He increased his career bankroll to more than $345,000 for his connections with his career best time of 1:50 taken at the age of three.
